Apparatus for manufacturing latex tubes



March 29, 1938.

A. o. ABBOTT; JR.. ET A1.

i JM

APPARATUS-FOR MANUFACTRING LATEX TUBES y l 18 Sheets-sheet 1 A. o. ABBOTT, JR.. ET AL 2,1125513 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LATEX TUBES Filed Jan. 7, 1955 18 sheets-sheet 2l Marchzs, 1938.

March2l9, .1938. A. o. ABBOTT, JR.. ET-AL 2,412,513

I APPARATUS FORMANUFACTURING `LTIX TUBES Filed Jan. 7, 1935 1s sheets-sheet s la SNS S March Z9, 1938. A. o. ABBOTT, JR.. ET'AL APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING'LATEX TUBES Filed Jan. 7, 1955 18 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 29, 1938. A, o. ABBOTT, JR., ET AL v 2,112,513

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LTEX TUBES l y n hun mmm. L /J U /33 www@ 17TH/UVEK A. o ABBOTT, JR., ET A1. 2,112,513 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING` LATEX TU BES March 29, 1 938.

Filed Jan. '7, 1935 18 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 29, 193s.

A. o. ABBOTT, JR., ET A1. 2,112,513

APPARATUS FCB MANUFACTURING LATEX TUBES Filed Jan. '7, 1933 18 Sheets-Sheet 7 March 29, 1938. A. o; ABBOTT, JR.. ET AL '2,112,513

APPARATUS FOB MANUFACTURING' LATEX TUBES Filed Jan. A 7, 1935 18 Sheets-Sheet 8f Marh 29, 1938- A. o. ABBOTT, JR., ET A1. ,Y 2,112,513

APPARATUS FOR MANUFCTURNG' LATEX TUBES I 18 sheets- Sheet 9 NNN Filed Jan. 7, 1953 March 29, 1938- A. o. ABBQTjJm Erm.4 U 2,112,513r

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LATEX TUBES Filed Jan. 7, 193; `18 sn'eetsJ-Qsvneet 1o EN TORS Marchv29, 1938. A. o. ABBOTT, JR., ET AL 2,412,513

` APPARATUS FOR pMANUFCTURING `LATEX TUBES Filed Jan. '7, 1933 18 sheets-sheet 11 Ma-rch 29, 1938- A. o. ABBOTT, JR.. ET AL v 2,112,513

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LATEX TUBES Filed Jari. 7, 1933 1,8 sheets-sheet 12 Maujch 29, 1938. A. o. ABBOTT, JR.. ET AL l 2,112,513

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LATEX TUBES v l Filed Jan. 7, 1935 18 Sheets-Sheet'.A 13

' Uni/V57 March 29, 1938. A. o.l ABBOTT, JR., ET AL- 2,112,513

' APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LATEX TUBES Filed Jan. fr, 1953 le sheets-smeet 1,4

March 29, 1938. A. o. ABBOTT, JR... ET AL 2,112,513

APPARATUS FOR 'MANUFACTURING LATEX TUBES 18 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Jan. A'7, 1933 A. o. ABBOTT, JR., E-r AL Mgr@ 29,' 193s'.

` APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LATEX TUBES Filed Jan. 7, 193:5' 1s sheets-sheet 16 IN VEN T0 l 29, 1938. A. o, ABBOTT, JR., ET AL MM5@ APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURINGVLATEX TUBES Fild Jan. '7, 1933 18 Sheets-Sheet 17 i fbi z l /.If-' l am 1 Humm w; @f-

March 29, 1938. A. o. ABBOTT, JR., ET AL 2,112,513

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LATEX TUBES 18 Sheets-Sheet 18'.

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Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING LATEX TUB New Jersey Application January 7, 1933, Serial No. 650,608

18 Claims.

The present invention elates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing inner tubes for pneumatic tires by the latex deposition process. In' general the apparatus consists of a plurality 5 of mandrels mounted on trucks which are in,

termittently moved along a conveyor, automatic means for washing the mandrels, means for dipping the mandrels in a clay or chalk solution, and means for sealing the mandrels within a tank for the purpose of vulcanizing the formed tubes by elevated steam pressure. After the formed tubes Vare removed from the mandrels, the mandrels again pass through the same process.

` Among the. objects and advantages of the apparatus are that it almost entirely dispenses with manual labor except for stripping the mandrels, with the resultant effect of a uniform product and a saving in the cost of manufacture. The apparatus itself is a complete unit functioning independently of any accessory apparatus or processes, a combination which lends toward'expeditious manufacture. Its unitary combination avoids a widespread distribution of operations andresults-in a saving in floor space. The present invention enables pneumatic tire tubes to be manufactured by the latex process efciently, expeditiously and economically.

The apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in'which:

Fig. l is a plan View of the complete apparatus; Fig. 2 is a slide elevation thereof; Fig. 3 illustrates an end elevation of the mandrel'and truck;

Fig. 4 is an 'enlarged sectional view ofthe mandrel joint and truck connection;

Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe truck propulsion means andcross conveyor drive; l

Fig. 6 is aside elevational view of theapparatus vshown in Fig. 5; i

Fig. 7 is a. plan view of the mandrel washing means and the lter depositing tank;

Fig. 8 is a side view, of the apparatus shownin Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an end view partially in section, ofthe mandrel washingmeans; A

Fig. 10 shows a detail view of one of the washingsprinklers; j

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the means for lowering the mandrels into'the washer, along section line X11-#Xl of Fig. 9;

Fig. l2 is a planview showing theengaging means between the trruckdipping'arm and the actuating means; f 'f 13 is an' elevational view, partly. in section,-1 of the apparatus shown in Fig'. 12;

'at the glycerine station;

taken y Fig. 14 is a plan View of. a portion of the latex dipping mechanism;

Fig. l5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 14, taken substantially along section line XV-XV of Fig. 16; 5

Fig. 16 is an end View of the latex dipping mechanism taken along the section line XVI- XVI of Fig. 15;

.Fig 17 is a plan view of additional latex dipping mechanism cooperating with the mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of the mechanism of Fig. 17;

Fig, 19 is a plan View of the dipping mechanism Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of the mechanism of Fig. 19;`

Fig. 21 is a detailed elevationalview, in section, taken along section line XXI--X'Xl of Fig. 20;

Fig.| 22 is a plan view of the truck banking sec- 20 tion of the conveyor; Fig 23 is a side elevational View of the conveyor section of Fig. 22; v

Fig. 24 is a detail sectional view of the truck propulsion means taken substantially along sec- 25 tion line-XXIV--XXIV of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a plan view, in cross section, of the vulcanizer unit;

Fig. 26 is a side elevational View, in cross section, of the vulcanizer unit;

Fig. 27 shows a fragmentary portion, in section, of the upper side of the vulcanizer tank and door;

Fig. 28 is a similar view of the vulcanizer tank. and door, at the lower side; 35

Fig. 29 is an enlarged plan view, in section,

of the outlet end of the vulcanizer tank; l Fig.. 30 is .an end elevational view of the tank end of Fig. 29, in section; v

Fig. 3l is an `end` elevational view of the vul- 40 canizer unit;

Fig. 32 is a side elevational view of thevulcanizer tank and the steam connections;

Fig. 33 isa plan vlewjof the vulcanizer outlet conveyor section; 45

Fig. v34 is aside elevational view of the conv'eyor of Fig. 33;

Fig. 35 has been omitted. Fig. 36 is a side elevational View of thetube formation conveyor section showing the vacuum 50.

connections;

Fig. 37is a detail elevational vieu/Partly in section, of a' vacuum connection taken along secf tion line XXXVII-XXXVII of Fig'. 36;

Fig. 38 is a perspective view of thev timing 55 means for the vacuum. fluid trical connections;

Fig. 39 is a plan view of the vacuum connections at the truck bankingconveyor section;

Fig. 40 is a side elevational view of the connections shown in Fig. 39;

Fig. 41 is a detail sectional elevational view of a vacuum connection'taken along section line XLI-XLI of Fig. 40;

Fig. 42 is an enlarged end view of the vacuum connection within the vuicanizer tank;

Fig. 43 is a side elevational view, in section, of the connection of Fig. 42;

Fig. 44 is a plan view, partly in section, of the drive and timing mechanism; I

Fig. 45 is a side'elevational view of the mechanism of Fig. 44, looking in the direction indicated by section line XLV-XLV of Fig. 44;

Fig. 46 is an end elevational view of the timing gears taken along section line XLVI-XLVI of-` Fig. 45;

Fig. 47 is a detail view of the truck propulsion cam, taken along section line XLVII-XLVII of Fig. 45;

Fig. 48 is an end elevational view, partly in section, of the timing clutch taken along section lines pressure, and 180- XLVIlI-XLVIII 0f Fig. 45; and,

Fig. 49v is a perspective detail view, partly in section, of the cam actuating means for the timing clutch.

Mandrel s This invention provides an automatic apparatus for performing thexprogressive operations of making inner tubes on forms or mandrels in accordance with the latex deposition process.

'Ihe tube forming mandrel I is illustrated in Y Figs. 3 and 4 and is similar to the mandrel form- -ing the subject matter of the previous application for Letters Patent Serial No. 467,251, nled July 1l, 1930, although other types of mandrels may be used. Generally, it consists of members 2 and 3 forming an annular tube, hinged at l, and obliquely joined at 3 by means of a tubular lock ing post 3 extending through the member 2 at the oblique joint 3 and having a threaded connection with the member 3. A sleeve 1, -rigidly fastened to the member 2, forms a means f sup- POrt for the mandrel I. The members 2 and 3 are knurled on their outer surfaces and contain perforatlons 3. A flexible sleeve 9 covers the hinge 4 to overcome any irregularities at the joint. A fabric material I l,-in the form of a seamless annular sleeve, covers the Ventire surface of the g mandrel. As shown in' Fig. 3, a ltering layer of clay or chalk may be applied over the fabric sleeve Il. The thus4 constructed mandrel forms a filtering medium so that upon the application of vacuum to the interior thereof through thel tube 6 and its immersion into a solution or disper-sion, either natural or artificial, of rubber or rubber-like material, a deposit of the solid particles of which will remain on the outer surface of the mandrel to'formv the tube.

Mandrel mick A plurality of the mandrels`I are mounted on trucks' I 2 for the purpose of expeditin'g production by' simultaneous Vformation ofvtubes on the plu-A rality of mandrels. The truck and its details are 1 shown inparticularin Figs. 3k,v 4, l2, 13, 29 anq30. yEach truckconsists of 'bracket stands I3 and Il` join in'. spaced relation bya cross. member`lll. A ubular shaft I6 extends between thestands I3 -and Il and is fastened .to the hubs IIv .and Il' lwhich are rotatably mounted within the bracket portion of the locking pin cooperates with a cam ,23 to returnto its locked position before the stands.l An upright I9 extending from thecenter of the tubular shaft I6 vcarries a cross-head 20 from which the mandrelsare supported by the several sleeves 1. lThe cross-head 20, upright I9, tubular shaft I6, and hub I8 are apertured and communicate with one another. The aper-l ture is open to the atmosphere at the/outer end of the hub I8. 'I'he opening in the hub `-I1 is sealed by the presence of a plug 2|.

Fig. 4 shows the connection between a mandrel and the cross-head 20. The sleeve 1 rigidly joins `section 2 of the mandrel with the cross-head 20.

A projection 22, integral with the connector tube 6, provides external means for turning the tube 6 to unthread it from section 3 and then withdrawing it by longitudinal movement when 'it is desired to disconnect the mandrel sections for the removal of the finished tube. 'When the connector tube is in place its aperture completes a communication between the interior of the mandrel and the interior of the cross-head. Gaskets 23, circumscribing a depression 24 at the upper end of the connector tube 6, effectually seal the vacuum within the cross-head from the atmosphere.

In stripping a tube from a mandrel, the tube 6 is rst withdrawn to free the sections 2 and 3.

The opening in the rubber at the sleeve 1 is then stretched over'the end of section 2 and between the sections 2 and 3. The tube is then worked around the mandrel in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4 until it slips off the free end of section 3. An air blast may be used 4to assist in the removal of the tube from the mandrel.` After the tube is freed it may be stretched over' one or more adjacent mandrels to remove it from the cross-head 20, if necessary.

'I'he engaging means for lowering the mandrels at the various stations is best illustrated in Figs. l2 and 13. A crank arm 25 integral with the, hub I1 extends in co-operative relation to a yoke crank arm 26 forming a part of the actuating means: 'Ifhe yoke crank arm is similar .at all. dipping stations. Crank arm 23 is provided .with a roller 21v held in place by a stud 23. A- locking means is required to retain the mandrels in an upright positionunless Vin alignment with the actuating means at the various stations. 'Ihis vis accomplished by a locking pin 23 slidable in bosses 3l and 3I projecting fmm the crank arm hub. The locking pin sockets within a 'depres sion 32 in a raised portion 33 of the bracket I3. A compression spring 3l normally retains the crank arm and bracket stand in locked position.Y A groove 35 on the upper and outerV extended end 36 fastened to the yoke crank arin' 23. A guide pin 31 on the locking pin 23 slidable in a slot 33 in the lcooperatingsurface -of boss 3| serves to maintain the vlocking pin groove 35 in an upward 60 position. Figs. 12-and 13 aresbown in the posi-NX tion wherein the mandrel` truck is moving onward vand the crank arms are about to disengage'. In this position `the cam ,33 has allowed the pin crank `arms arev entirely g An' indentation 39 in thelower -side Aof the bracket-stands has for its purpose to cooperate with a stud II on the conveyor frame and to hold the truck assembly in alignment withthe actuating mechanisms dm'ing its cooperation with same. Y

Conveyor Referring in particular to Fig. 1,v the conveyor consists essentially of a skeleton-like construc- 75 

